Fade protector

Abstract

A method of protecting a glazed frame mounted document from the ravages of light and a fade protector therefore, the protector comprising a transparent UV absorbing polymeric film layer, preferably PET, having a thickness such that the film in use remains substantially flat against the glazing when clamped between the frame and glazing, the film layer being coated on its exposed side in use with a transparent anti-glare hard coating. The glazing is removed from the glazed frame, the fade protector is placed against a surface of the glazing which is then re-assembled in the frame with the fade protector adjacent the eternal surface of the glazing with the anti-glare coating facing outwardly.

1. A fade protector for incorporation into a glazed frame, the protector comprising a transparent UV absorbing polymeric film layer having a thickness such that the film in use remains substantially flat against the glazing when clamped between the frame and glazing, the film layer being coated on its exposed side in use with a transparent anti-glare hard coating and wherein the thickness of the film increases with the size of the frame with the thickness T of the film being related to the diagonal dimension D of the frame such that D/T lies between 2±1×10 3 . 
     
     
       2. A fade protector for incorporation into a glazed frame, the protector comprising a transparent UV absorbing polymeric film layer having a thickness such that the film in use remains substantially flat against the glazing when clamped between the frame and glazing, the film layer being coated on its exposed side in use with a transparent anti-glare hard coating, wherein the anti-glare hard coating is a UV cured acrylate resin coating having a nanoparticle dispersion therein which is structured in the surface region so as to scatter light and is clear and with low haze in the bulk of the coating. 
     
     
       3. A fade protector as claimed in  claim 2  in which the anti-glare coating has a 60 degree gloss of 80-100 gloss units and a haze of <12% and scratch resistant to 0000 steel Wool. 
     
     
       4. A fade protector as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the 60 degree gloss is preferably between 85-95 gloss units and the haze is between 9-11%. 
     
     
       5. A fade protector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric film layer is PET. 
     
     
       6. A fade protector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the other surface of the film is masked by a release liner which is low tack and easily peelable from the film. 
     
     
       7. A glazed frame for mounting a picture, document etc and which comprises a frame, glazing mounted in the frame, a backing board holding the glazing and picture in the frame, and a fade protector clamped between a portion of the frame and a front exposed surface or the glazing, the fade protector comprising a transparent UV absorbing polymeric film layer having a thickness such that the protector in use remains substantially flat against the glazing when clamped between a portion of the frame end the glazing, the film layer being coated on its exposed side with a transparent anti-glare hard coating, wherein the anti-glare hard coating is a UV cured acrylate resin coating having a nanoparticle dispersion therein which is structured in the surface region so as to scatter light and is clear and with low haze in the bulk of the coating. 
     
     
       8. A glazed frame as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein which the anti-glare coating has a 60 degree gloss of 80-100 gloss units and a haze of <12% and scratch resistant to 0000 steel Wool. 
     
     
       9. A glazed frame as claimed in claim as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein polymeric film layer is PET. 
     
     
       10. A glazed frame as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the thickness of the film increases with the size of the frame with the thickness T of the film being related to the diagonal dimension D of the frame such that D/T lies between 2±1×10 3 .